New Zealand batsmen face rearguard to avoid defeat by West Indies

The West Indies debutant Jermaine Blackwood scored 63 against New Zealand in the second Test at Port of Spain, Trinidad. Photograph: Arnulfo Franco/AP

A half-century by Jermaine Blackwood helped West Indies to a 239-run lead on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand in Trinidad as they look to level the series and by the end of play New Zealand had reduced that to 166 for the loss of one wicket.

The 22-year-old Jamaican’s impressive Test debut saw him score 63, with six fours and two sixes, off 110 balls before he was caught by Ross Taylor off the leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Denesh Ramdin provided strong support for the youngster, who batted at No8, as the West Indies middle order took advantage of some slack bowling.

Sodhi was the only real threat and he moved on to four wickets in the match at a cost of 96 runs from 19 overs. With West Indies all out for 460 in reply to New Zealand’s first-innings 221, the visitors finished the day on 73 for one in their second innings.

Their openers, Brendon McCullum and Tom Latham, had added only nine runs when Jerome Taylor surprised McCullum for pace and trapped him leg-before.

Latham (30 not out) and Kane Williamson (38 not out) then steadied the ship but New Zealand are likely to have to bat well into the fifth day to avoid defeat.

Sign up for the Guardian Today

Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.